115 replies to this topic

[MeiSooHaityu]

The Atlas seems to be the jack of all trades, master of none mech. It has a little of everything in each variant, but has no real specialization builds.

I actually think the Stalker is a bit OP anyway for an Assault. The torso twist seems way too fast and worse yet, the model seems about 15% too small. Why is the stalker about the same size as a Catapault?

Anyway, I normally pilot Heavies, I need to go a bit faster than an Assault, but that is personal preference.

[p00k]

MeiSooHaityu, on 11 April 2013 - 05:45 AM, said:

The Atlas seems to be the jack of all trades, master of none mech. It has a little of everything in each variant, but has no real specialization builds.

lolwut?

2mlas 3srm6 ac20 isn't s specialized brawler?
4ppc 1gauss isn't a specialized sniper?

seriously, you people

MeiSooHaityu, on 11 April 2013 - 05:45 AM, said:

I actually think the Stalker is a bit OP anyway for an Assault. The torso twist seems way too fast

hahah, good one

Edited by p00k, 11 April 2013 - 06:10 AM.

[Ransack]

MisterFiveSeven, on 10 April 2013 - 05:05 PM, said:

Having mastered the stalker, I expected the atlas to be bigger, slower, and have more firepower.

I was mistaken.

Its turning radius is abysmal. Its turning speed is worse. It has restrictive hard points. I can't stand its ridiculous gorilla arms turn every mole hill into complete cover for your target.

The way weapon balance has been tweaked means that you will always be able to carry more weapons than you can effectively use (think crits and double vs single hear sinks in the context of faster fire rates).

Moral of the story is that tweaks to the TT numbers have unintended consequences (I am not a zealot said please don't flame) and TT values are not perfectly balanced (no one ever customized a mech to carry 4 ac2's lol) but short of the ddc, the Atlas is worthless. The stalker is better in every way (hardpoints, mechanical response, heat efficiency).

What do you think?

This is funny to me. I had a similar epiphany last night, but in reverse. I came to realize that I really am just going to give them up. I'll stick to my Atlases and Grab a Highlander or two, but the Stalker while it was fun piloting a big Cat, just isn't my cup of tea anymore.

[TexAce]

Shadowsword8, on 11 April 2013 - 02:06 AM, said:

It's kind of a waste to mix a large tonnage of pinpoint weapons with others that will spread most of their damage away from the part you're focusing in. Drop the 2 SRM6, and use the freed tonnage for more AC shells and heat sinks. Maybe change the AC20 for a Gauss + case, as well, better damage/heat ratio on your alpha.

you know, some like to "BOOM" more than to "KSSS"

[Ransack]

Mycrus, on 11 April 2013 - 02:59 AM, said:

Mastered all my atlai

If you are running 300s you are doing it wrong

I mastered all Three of My Atlases as well. Working on a fourth. All have Standard 300's.

Did I miss a memo?

[Ewigan]

I run 300s on my Atlases, too.
And yeah, they feel really slow to me. But 'dem weapon!

[Viper69]

I run 300s in most of mine and a 325 in the other.

[Werewolf486 ScorpS]

You're not doing it right. I've been very successful in my Atlasi, Atlases, Atli...what ever. I was against them from the beginning, not going to run them, then I had no choice. My team required me to have one, now I've got 3 very good Atlases, Atli...what ever. They have good speed, plenty of punch and I can take down Stalkers with them, granted the PPC boats are problematic, but I can do it. It's a chassis you have to get use to running and you have to learn how to run it, I did and now I'm happy. Also with the current state of MWO you have to have something in that class, after all we are playing AssaultWarrior.

[Serious Table]

Mastered Atlas running a 300. Don't feel like I'm missing a thing.

[Serious Table]

Werewolf486, on 11 April 2013 - 06:23 AM, said:

It's a chassis you have to get use to running and you have to learn how to run it, I did and now I'm happy.

I'm almost willing to bet that this is the problem; the Atlas doesn't have one general "stack 2-6 of the same weapon and point-and-click to win" builds like the 6 LLas Stalker, 6 SRM 6 Catapult, 6 PPC Stalker, double AC/20 'Mechs, etc etc. 4 PPC and a Gauss is pretty close to that general idea, but even then you still have two different weapon systems you have to manage. The classic D-DC? 2 lasers (Large or Medium), 3 SRM6s, AC/20. 3 different weapon systems with 3 different ways to fire them. It takes some effort to get used to piloting an Atlas.

But when you do...

Edited by Serious Table, 11 April 2013 - 06:27 AM.

[jeffsw6]

Zrave, on 11 April 2013 - 05:26 AM, said:

I have a master unlocked DDC I never play because I hate how low and wide the arms are, I have to expose so much of my mech to fire over terrain that it's almost suicidal, especially with the slow movement.

It's something you can get used to but why should you when you can just play a stalker instead? The arms on the stalker are perfect! Love the hull-down fire.

If you want to pop-tart, yes, a Stalker is better suited to that style of play than an Atlas. Pop-tarting in an Atlas is usually foolish.

[p00k]

Ransack, on 11 April 2013 - 06:16 AM, said:

I mastered all Three of My Atlases as well. Working on a fourth. All have Standard 300's.

Did I miss a memo?

Ewigan, on 11 April 2013 - 06:18 AM, said:

I run 300s on my Atlases, too.
And yeah, they feel really slow to me. But 'dem weapon!

Serious Table, on 11 April 2013 - 06:23 AM, said:

Mastered Atlas running a 300. Don't feel like I'm missing a thing.

the lack of acceleration/deceleration/turn speed means once you push, with a 300std it's that much harder to de-commit. the lack of turn speed and torso twist makes it that much harder to shield torsos. the lack of speed gives snipers, depending on position, more free shots on you as you maneuver

don't want to sacrifice all that tonnage for a 350? at least take a 325. it's worth it for pretty much every atlas build except 4ppc+gauss where you simply don't have the tonnage

[Rebas Kradd]

Malora Sidewinder, on 10 April 2013 - 10:41 PM, said:

plus, the atlas can fill multiple roles at ONCE, stalker can really only do long range/brawling build. (either dedicated LRM/laser builds which run super hot and are totally useless from up close, OR an srm package.) if you try to mix the two it sucks.

Funny, I've had a completely different experience. My 3ML/2LL/SRM10/LRM15 Stalker regularly deals out >400 dmg in a fire support role (i.e. staying OUT of the main brawl and pumping electric death into it, using LRM's as mostly a medium range weapon), and it's not even mastered yet.

While I don't disagree with what others have stated on the Atlas' advantages, the Stalker has one very distinct disadvantage that an Atlas lacks: it's not an Atlas. When people see an Atlas, they think one of three things:

1) "Hey, there's the bulk of the enemy's firepower! KILL HIM!"

2) "Hey, there's their ECM! KILL HIM!"

3) "Hey, there's a n00b who just went for the biggest 'Mech there was! KILL HIM!"

And what happens when a Stalker comes over a hill? "Meh, that's a Catapult. Keep shooting the Atlas."

Edited by Rebas Kradd, 11 April 2013 - 06:35 AM.

[Elizander]

Stuii OCAU, on 10 April 2013 - 05:07 PM, said:

I agree - and the ease of coring the CT of an atlas makes it a very frustrating mech to pilot at times

I shoot every Stalker in the nuts and they go down just like Atlases.

[Viper69]

Elizander, on 11 April 2013 - 06:37 AM, said:

I shoot every Stalker in the nuts and they go down just like Atlases.

It was the same in MW4. When a mech was losing his front armor and turned his rear to you, aim for the butt plate where the legs join. Same tactic new game.

[Goldhawk]

The Atlas as it was made was to inspire fear and terror into the enemy force facing it. According to the 3025 record book, they tried to take the biggest weapon of every category and put it into the Atlas. It would have had 2 Large Lasers but there was a problem with the wiring so they decided upon 4 mediums. Let's get into the 3025 mindset without modifying it...
Ac/20: Gods hammer. It usually puts you down or in a world of serious hurt.
LRM20: Arrows of God: You look up, and ohhhh s******!
Srm6: BLENG! Ow......
4 Medium Lasers: no no no no Bzzzzzttttt! MY ARM.... OH MY GOD MY ARM's GONE!
All that with 18 tons of armor. If you still are not in awe over the Atlas read the description found in the Warrior: Coupe book when Morgan Kell pilots it.

[Terror Teddy]

One Medic Army, on 10 April 2013 - 05:32 PM, said:

The atlas fights significantly differently from a stalker.
The atlas fights with alpha strikes and torso twist

I never alpha with my Atlas.

It all depends on what role you create for it.

X2 AC/5
X2 LRM5
X4 MPL

Flexible weapon loadout for all ranges.

[Royalewithcheese]

Elizander, on 11 April 2013 - 06:37 AM, said:

I shoot every Stalker in the nuts and they go down just like Atlases.

Above: sage advice. Some mechs have small center torsos, but the "Cage maneuver?"



If do right, no can defense.

Edited by Royalewithcheese, 11 April 2013 - 07:01 AM.

[Corwin Vickers]

FerretGR, on 11 April 2013 - 05:12 AM, said:

I have to admit my bias: I cannot stand STKs. I like fast mechs in general (if you haven't gathered that) and if it's not fast, it has to at least be able to twist and turn and shoot at angles when the faster mechs come around. The abysmal torso twist and lack of articulated arm-mounted weapons make the STK by a long shot my least favorite mech.

My Stalkers all run 62kph. That's a 300 std. Seeing as how I'm frequently out in front I think it's pretty fast.

MeiSooHaityu, on 11 April 2013 - 05:45 AM, said:

The torso twist seems way too fast and worse yet, the model seems about 15% too small. Why is the stalker about the same size as a Catapault?

The stalker is quite long compared to the catapult. It's taller, wider etc... I think most of the mechs seem to be the right size for their tonnage.

People always say the awesome is too big but it's pretty thin imo. Probably not the best design choice to make a really wide but thin mech but it seems in proportion to me.

[javathejat]

Most of you forum people likes to talk a lot without knowing what are you talking about.

The atlas is one of the best mechs. If you cant pilot an atlas that doesnt mean the mech is bad.